New Idaho Law Calls For Killing 90% of the State's Wolves

[SummerMadness]

New Idaho Law Calls For Killing 90% of the State's Wolves

Conservative lawmakers in Idaho and Montana have passed new laws to drastically reduce the number of wolves in those states. Concerns over the animal's impact on both livestock and wild prey have long festered among ranchers and some hunters and reached the floor of Idaho's House of Representatives in April.

"When [wolves] are so fearless that they are now walking down the center of a dirt road, that means there's too many of them, there's way too many of them," said Idaho state GOP Rep. Dorothy Moon. Her district includes many of the state's 1,500 estimated wolves and prime wolf habitat.

Moon, and many others, don't like how some of the state's prized elk herds have become smaller since wolves returned.

Recent counts of elk show populations above target in many regions of the state, and a total population near its all-time high.

Wolf depredations on livestock was another argument proponents for the new law made, though the U.S. Department of Agriculture found only about 130 cattle and sheep in Idaho were confirmed or probable kills by wolves between July 2019 and June last year. The state is home to around 2.7 million cattle alone.

But lawmakers have a different idea of what a "reasonable" number of wolves is. Idaho's new law calls for killing up to 90% of them.

When lies and misinformation rule supreme in one area, it's no surprise to see it pop up elsewhere

 

[Rene Loup]

Glad to be Canadian!

 

[DerSchweik]

Glad to be Canadian!

Only saved wolves up there, eh?

 

[pescador]

Farmers should be compensated for any livestock they can prove were killed by wolves. Your statistics show that wolf predation isn't a real problem. IMHO this is just caving in to ignorant people who want to kill.

 

[Rene Loup]

Only saved wolves up there, eh?

Left the pack and joined the flock.

 

[Rene Loup]

Farmers should be compensated for any livestock they can prove were killed by wolves.

How many dishes do I need to wash?

 

[DerSchweik]

Left the pack and joined the flock.

Amen!

 

[com7fy8]

Here is a 4:15 video about how wolves effected the ecosystem in Yellowstone Park >

The overall message is that "deer" had been overpopulating and overgrazing in Yellowstone. But wolves brought down those elk numbers so vegetation could grow and help support various other species which had been reduced because of elk overgrazing.

Also, wolves reduced coyotes so more small prey were available to support hawks and other hunters of small prey.

Plus, by stopping elk from overgrazing at shore lines, beavers could thrive and produce ponds for various creatures to use behind beaver dams.

And . . . because wolves cut down the elk overgrazing, that even helped to change the course of rivers! And it seems the video is saying that in some places the rivers would form more stationary bodies of water, supporting more species!

There is more detail in the video.

 

[Kettriken]

Farmers should be compensated for any livestock they can prove were killed by wolves. Your statistics show that wolf predation isn't a real problem. IMHO this is just caving in to ignorant people who want to kill.

Sounds like socialism to me. Those sheep just need to learn to pull themselves up by..their...hoof..straps..?

 

[disciple Clint]

New Idaho Law Calls For Killing 90% of the State's Wolves




When lies and misinformation rule supreme in one area, it's no surprise to see it pop up elsewhere

Yes false narratives and lies are dangerous but protecting cattle in cattle states is understandable as is elimination of dangerous predators